Comparative efficacy of prolene and prolene-vicryl composite mesh for experimental ventral hernia repair in dogs

ABSTRACT

In this study, efficacy of two hernia mesh implants viz. conventional Prolene and a novel Prolene-Vicryl composite mesh was assessed for experimental ventral hernia repair in dogs. Twelve healthy mongrel dogs were selected and randomly divided into three groups, A, Band C [n=4]. In all groups, an experimental laparotomy was performed; thereafter, the posterior rectus sheath and peritoneum were sutured together, while, a 5 × 5 cm defect was created in the rectus muscle belly and anterior rectus sheath. For sublay hernioplasty, the hernia mesh [Prolene group A; Prolene-Vicryl composite mesh group B], was implanted over the posterior rectus sheath. In group C [control], mesh was not implanted; instead the laparotomy incision was closed after a herniorrhaphy. Postoperative pain, mesh shrinkage and adhesion formation were assessed as short term complications. Post-operatively, pain at surgical site was significantly less [P<0.001] in group B [composite mesh]; mesh shrinkage was also significantly less in group B [21.42%, P<0.05] than in group A [Prolene mesh shrinkage 58.18%]. Group B [composite mesh] also depicted less than 25% adhesions [Mean +/- SE 0.75 +/- 0.50 scores, PDiamond scale; a Qualitative Adhesion Tenacity scale also depicted either no adhesions [n=2], or, only flimsy adhesions [n=2] in group B [composite mesh], in contrast to group A [Prolene], which manifested greater adhesion formation and presence of dense adhesions requiring blunt dissection. Conclusively, the Prolene-Vicryl composite mesh proved superior to the Prolene mesh regarding lesser mesh contraction, fewer adhesions and no short-term follow-up complications